Igor Konašenkov. Photo: Video frame of the Russian Ministry of Defense. The official representative of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Major General Igor Konashenko, commented on the statement of the US State Department that the representatives of the Ukrainian volunteer battalions continue to maintain control of Mariupol, and described them as lies and false. Azov “(the organization is banned in the Russian Federation) ignores the Russian party's offer to allow women and children to leave the Azovstal factory if they are there. According to him, the fact that Azov members and foreign mercenaries are holding civilian hostages, if any, proves that “they are not” defenders “but complete terrorists.”
“Konashenko said.” Russia's Defense Department “usually misinforms its own citizens and everyone else.” >